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Conference Spotlight
2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Blades-in turbine inspections at Quad Cities set new benchmark for Constellation
When Constellation decided to install replacement Alstom low-pressure turbines at three of its boiling water reactor plants more than 15 years ago, one benefit was knowing the new turbines should operate reliably—and without major inspections—for several years.
Barry L. Butterfield (Retired), Daniel B. Bullen (DNFSB)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 330-335
An important component of the proposed Yucca Mountain Project was the development of a new rail line intended to transport waste casks from the main U.S. rail system to the repository site. The early phases of repository development identified five corridors for consideration: Carlin, Jean, Valley Modified, Caliente, and Caliente-Chalk Mountain. Later in the process, DOE added a new corridor, Mina, based on conversations with the Walker River Paiute Tribal Council. In the Final Environmental Impact Statement (RA-EIS) for the rail alignments, DOE concluded that two rail corridors, Caliente and Mina, would be considered in detail. Nevada Rail Partners, a subcontractor to the Yucca Mountain Project management and operations contractor, evaluated ten possible alternate alignments within the Caliente Corridor, and four alternate alignments within the Mina Corridor. The evaluations included alternative alignments (including rail design criteria), rail construction, yard facilities, and rail operations issues. This paper briefly describes these evaluations, and provides a summary of the engineering evaluation of facility requirements, system controls, construction planning, and air quality issues.
Development of conceptual design drawings for alternate alignments was relatively straightforward. The conceptual design process also included development of preliminary construction plans that provided a basis to the environmental contractor who prepared the RA-EIS. This paper focuses on the lessons learned throughout this conceptual design process as well as from a review of public comments received on the RA-EIS. These lessons address issues associated with general design principles, resource impacts, and alignment selection. This paper also provides a strategic assessment of issues regarding the new paradigm for environmental activism. These issues should be incorporated into the evaluation of any updated transportation plan for Yucca Mountain, should that site be re-considered, or any new site identified by either the Department of Energy or a private sector applicant.
